Condenser



Jan. 16; 1923.

I C. M. YATES CONDENSER. FILED JUNE 3, 1921 Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

CHARLES M. YATES, OF JACKSON; TENNESSEE.

CONDENSER.

A lication filed June 3, 192i. Serial No. 47%,847.

To all whomc't may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLESAIVI. YATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Madison and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful improvements in Condensers, of which the following is a specification.

M 7 invention relates generally to improvements in the construction and operation or condensing apparatus, and relates more specifically toimprovements in con- .densers or" the type whereinsteam. is con densed by virtue of being conducted in direct contact with a plurality of jets of cooling water.

it general object of my invention isto prey is a condenser which is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

A. more specific object or the invention is to produce a jet condenser in which the con- 5' 5; ncy or cooling water isunitormly dist vihutedithroughout the condensing zone, thus effecting rapid and efiicient condensation of the steam. Another spec object is to provide .a. relatively compact j condenser (Ti large capacity which is adapted to maintain relatively uniform lflz b vacuum throughout considerable varia tion in range of operating conditions. A furtherspecitic object is to provide condensing; apparatus which may be manufactured t minimui'u cost and the-design of which may be readily altered to conform with the desired conditions of operation. These and other objectsof the invention and the manner in which they are attained, will beepparent from the following: description.

A. clear conception of an embodiment of my invention may be had by referring to he drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reterenre characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

l lig'. 1 a central vertical section through a ct condenser embodying the improvement.

Fig. 2 is a top part sectional view of a iet condenser of the type disclosed in Fig. 1. lotion being taken on the line H H i 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one of ti e stream splitters.

Fig. 4C is an enlarged rear view of one of the stream splitters.

' Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom view of one of the stream splitters.

The jet condenser illustrated complete in Figs. 1. and 2, consists generally of a main casingihaving a steam inlet or supply conduit 2 communicating withmthe upper end thereof a cooling water inlet or supply conduit oleading into the side of the casing near its. top, an air outlet or discharge conduit 9 leading from the side of the casing at its .upperextremity, and a water outlet or discharge conduit 7 leading from the lower side portion of the casing. The main casingcomprises an upper section 16, an intermediate section 17 and a lower or base section 18., these sections being detachably connected in order .to permit dismantling and assembly of the structure.

The'upper casing section 16 is provided with a central annular wall which forms a condensing. zone 3 and which is penetrated .by a; plurality of rectangular water injection orifices 14: directed inwardly toward the centero't the coni'lensing zone 3. Depending from the lower end of the central upper casing'section wall, is an annular downwardly converging wall a which forms a constriction at the lower end of the condensing zone 3. The central annular wall of the casing section 16 is surrounded by two annular chambers 10, 12 which are segregated from enchother by suitable partition walls. The annular water supply chamber. 10 establishes communication between the cooling water inlet conduit 6 and all of the injection ori fices 14; while the annular air. chamber 12 establishes communication between the annular air. collecting pocket 11 which surrounds the depending wall 4:, and the air outlet conduit 9. A-vacuum breaker connection 13 communicates with the water inlet conduit 6 and connects with a vacuum breaker of suitable construction.

stream splitter 1-5, shown in detail in Figs. 4t and '5, is secured to the annular inner \vall o'l the upper casing section 1%} aboveieach of the water injection orifices 14:. Each. of the stream splitters 15 has a jet dividing and spreading member 19 extending downwardly and centrally across the adjacent orifice 14;. The splitter members 19 are formed wedge shape to enable them to cut the jets, and may be located at any desired distance in front of the injec tion orifices 14.

The intermediate casing section 17 supports the upper section 16 and rests upon the base section 18. The water collecting chamber 5 located within the intermediate.

casing section 17 communicates with the con- (lensing zoneS through the passage formed by the converging wall 4:, and has free up ward connnunication with the air chamber 12 through the annular air pocket 11. One or more pumps 8 mounted within the in termediate casing section 17 are adapted to remove the mixture ofwater of condensation and cooling water from the chamber 5 and to deliver this mixture from the condenser through the water discharge conduit 7. The casing section 17 may be provided with one or more manholes for permitting ready inspection of the interior of the condenser.

During normal operation of the apparatus, steam is admitted downwardly into the condensing'zone 3 through the steam supply conduit 2. Cooling water is admitted to the annular chamber 10 from the supply conduit 6 and is delivered from-the chamber 10 into the condensing zone 3 through the orifices 14; in the form of rectangular solid jets, the velocity of the jets thus delivered from the orifices 14 being dependent upon the pressure maintained in the chamber 10. As each of these jets Strikes the adjacent splitter member 19, it is divided into two parts which are forced horizontally away from. each other, and each otl which is spread laterally to produce a film of liquid disposed vertically within the condensing zone. The downwardly advancing steam flows along and in direct contact with both side surfaces of each of these jet films, and is quickly condensed. Due to the provision of superposed orifices 14, the steam which is not condensed by contact withtlie upper row of jet films, eventually impinges against the lower row of jet films, thereby insuring complete condensation of the steam within the condensing zone 3. Thelmixture of air, Water of condensation and coolingwater is delivered from the condensing zone 3 into the chamber '5, throught-he constriction produced by the annular walls. In the chamber 5. the air which escapes from the mixture, rises into the annular air pocket 11 from which it is withdrawn through the chamber 12 and the outlet conduit 9 with the aid of a suitable ejector or pump. The water delivered into the chamber 5 is discharged through the outlet conduit 7 by means of the pumps 8, thus providing for continuous and rapid con densation of the steam admitted to the condenser through the conduit 2.

It may in some instances be desirable to increase or diminish the number and the size of the orifices 14 and also to stagger them vertically, but this is a detail of construction which forms no part of my present invention. It will also be. obvious that the location and shape of the stream splitters 15 is an important factor in securing proper location, shape and distribution ofthe water films, and it is therefore not intended to limit the invention to the exact details of the embodiment herein illustrated.

By locating the air discharge conduit in communication with the highest portion of the main casing, and providing suitable communication thereto, undesirable pocketing *oiair is entirely eliminated and maximum vacuum conditions are maintainable. The location of the vacuum breaker connection 13 as illustrated, also insures efiicient operation of the condenser without introducing danger of injury to machinery associated with the apparatus, due to excessive accumulation oi water in the condenser.

t should be generally understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for obvious modifications mayocour to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In combination, a casing forming a condensing zone, means for delivering a solid jet of cooling water into said-zone, means for laterally spreading said jet to form a film of Water within said zone, means for delivering steam against said film of water, an d means for conducting fluid from said zone. v

2. In combination, a casing forming a condensing zone, means for delivering a solid jet of cooling water into said zone, means for dividing said jet and for laterally spreading the divisions thereof to form films of water within said zone, means for delivering steam against said film of water, and means for conducting fiuid from said zone.

3. In combination, a casing forming a condensing zone, means for delivering a solid jet of coolingwater into said zone, a splitter in the path of said jet for dividing the same and for laterally spreading the divisions thereof within said zone, means for delivering steam against said jet divisions. and means for conducting fluid from said zone.

In combination, a casing forming a condensing zone. means for delivering a solid jet of cooling water horizontally into said zone, means for laterally spreading said jet to form a vertical'film or water within said zone, means for admitting steam to an upperportion ot' sa-id zone, and means for conducting fluid :trom a lower portion of said zone.

In combination,a casing forming a condensing zone, means for delivering a solid jet of cooling water horizontally into said zone, means tor dividing said jet and for laterally spreading the divisions thereof to form vertical films of water within said zone, means for delivering steam downwardly along said films of Water, and means for conducting fluid from a lower portion of said zone.

6. In combination, a casing forming a condensing zone, means for delivering a solid jet of cooling water horizontally into and toward the center of said zone, means for vertically dividing said jet and for laterally spreading the divisions thereof to form vertical films of water within said zone, means for conducting steam downwardly through said zone and along said films of water, and a downwardly converging wall. for conducting fluid from the lower end of said zone.

7. In combination, acasing forming a condensingzone, means for delivering a solid jet of cooling water horizontally into said zone, a vertical splitter in. the path of said jet for dividing the same and for laterally spreading the divisions thereof within said zone, means for conducting steam. downwardly through said zone and against said jet divisions, and a downwardly converging wall for conducting fluid from a lower portion of said zone.

8. In combination, a casing forming a condensing zone, means for delivering an annular series of. solid jets of cooling water into said zone, means for laterally spreading each of said jets to form films of water within said zone, means for delivering steam.

against said films of water, and means for conducting fluid from said zone.

9.111 combination, a casing forming a condensing zone, means for delivering an annular series oi solid jets of cooling water into said zone, a splitter in the path of each of said jets for dividing the same and for laterally spreading the divisions thereof within said zone, means for delivering steam against said jet divisions, and means for conducting fluid from said zone.

10. In combination, a casing forming an annular condensing zone, means for delivering an annular series of solid jets of cooling water radially into said zone, a vertical splitter in the path of each of said jets for dividing the same and tor laterally spreading the divisions thereof within said zone, means for delivering steam against said jet divisions. and a converging wall for conducting fluid trom said zone.

11. In combination, an aimular casing :i or dividing the same tit forming a condensing zone having a vertical, axis, means for delivering an annular series of solid of cooling water horizon into and toward the ax s oi said zone. a vertical splitter in the p I of each of said jets g and for his fall spreading the divisions thereof to form an annular series of vertical iilms of water within said zone, for conducting steam downwardly through said zone and along said films of water, and means for conducting fluid from a lower portion of said zone.

12. In combination, a casing forming an annular condensingzone and an annular conduit surrounding said zone, means for delivering a series of solid jets of cooling water from said conduit into said zone, splitter in the path of each of said jets for dividing the same and for laterally spreading the divisions thereof to form films of water within said zone, means for delivering ste m against said films or water, and means for conducting fluid. from said zone.

13. In combination, acasing forming a condensing zone, means tor delivering superposed annular series of solid jets of cooling water into said zone, a splitter in the path of each of said jets for dividing the same and for laterally spreading the divisions thereof within said zone, means for conducting steam against said et divisions, and means for conducting fluid from said zone.

14-. In combination, a casing forming a annular condensing zone, means for delivering superposed annular series of solid jets of cooling water horizontally into and toward the center of said zone, avertical splitter in the path of each oil: said jets :i'or dividing the same and tor laterally spreading the divisions thereot to form vertical. i

filins within said zone, means for conducting steam downwardly along said divisions, and means for conducting fluid from the lower end of said zone.

15. In combination, a casing 'l orining an annular condensing zone and a plurality of annular conduits surroiuiding said zone, means for delivering cooling water "to one of said conduits, means for delivering said cooling water from said conduit into said zone, means for conducting elastic fluid from said zone into another of said conduits, and means for removing said elastic fluid trom said other conduit at its uppermost portion.

16. in combination. a casing forming a condensing zone. means tor delivering a plurality of jets of cooling tiuid into said zone. a downwardly converging wall tor conducting fluid from said zone, an annular air pocket surrounding said wall. and conduit means located above said zone for conducting air from said pocket.

nular air pocket surrounding said wall, and conduit means providing an air outlet from said pocket at the upper end of said zone.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is aflixed hereto.

CHARLES M. YATES. 

